CHAPTER 3
1247 Words
Thankfully, there was no queue in the bathroom when I walked in, so I entered one of the massive stalls to give myself some time to sit and think.
My flight was a little over twelve hours from now, since I wouldn’t be waiting for Lola and her friends, who weren’t leaving till two days from now.
Maybe I could just wait in my room until then. I’d say goodbye to Nate and Lola and try to get some sleep. Monday was my big meeting, so I could probably use the rest.
I got up to walk out just as the clatter of heels sounded. “Did you know that her father almost got arrested for embezzlement?”
“No way. I thought he just got roaring drunk and went bankrupt. ”
Dread made my heart sink. Over the past year, every day I thought I’d heard it all. My family was reduced to nothing more than petty gossip. The same accusations and
“ It was more than that. They got into a major lawsuit that made them lose everything. ”
“But someone bought them out, right?”
“Yeah. Sebastian Donovan.” The name is an iron fist on my heart and propels me out of the stall.
The girls - probably teenagers who snuck in- turn to each other with wide eyes, mouthing something like f**k over and over. I gave them a bored glance and made my way to the sink.
“Let’s go.” One of them had the intelligence to say, and they scrambled out quickly.
I let out a sigh as the door swung closed, crumpling the tissue I had been using. Sebastian Donovan. The catalyst behind the ruin of my family. Once the company was lost in the acquisition after the fake lawsuit he conspired against the company, it was a matter of moments before my family fell apart as well.
My father had always been a drunk, but without company he shrank to an almost indiscernible version of himself. Their story did have a point; he became a roaring alcoholic but still tried to start over. That’s where the loan sharks came in. That’s what landed us in this mess.
Addie, my fierce sister, was the one who tried to get him to stop. We fought him every step of the way until the day the loan sharks came to collect them, and we didn’t have anything to give. So, they took her.
Now it was just me and Lexi. Dad was a husk of his former self, confined to a small apartment. I tried to keep running with the little I got from my job. Turns out being the daughter of a multimillionaire didn’t really get you a lot of points on your cover letter.
I gave up on trying to get rid of the stain and stepped out, so I could grab my jacket and leave. I could catch up with Nate some other time.
I was still brushing off the bits of tissue on the dress when I walked out and instantly bumped into someone. The collision propelled me backwards, and I winced in anticipation of my fall when strong hands gripped me.
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” I blurted and opened my eyes, sighing in relief as the hands steadied me on my feet. “I guess I didn’t see where …” The words trailed off as I finally took in the person I’d bumped into, my smile falling as recognition set in. No. f*****g. Way.
“Are you okay?” I flinched, moving out of reach. A look of worry crossed his features, making him look almost human. Any other person, I would’ve swooned at how handsome he looked. Would’ve wondered about how I finally knew what all those books meant when they described someone as an Adonis. But this man?
“You’re Sebastian Donovan.” It was hard to keep the venom out of my voice as I took him in.
The worry faded and his eyes hardened. Did he even know me? Ruthless acquisitions and takeovers were his area of expertise, but I doubt he’d know the families he was ruining. Doubt he even spared the aftermath a second glance.
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. If you’ll excuse me.” He sidestepped me and walked away, leaving me seething internally. Why of all the people in this party did I have to cross paths with him?!
I had a feeling he would be there. After all, Damian’s known for being friends with almost everyone. But when I didn’t see him over the course of the last two days of the ceremony, I thought he wasn’t there. I got relaxed but this? It feels like the ground was swept from underneath me.
Despite the nightmares I’d had, I never thought I’d actually get a chance to meet him. Never planned or rehearsed what I would say or do. Now, I wish that I had, so I could have done something more worthwhile.
Still seething, I walked back to the bar to pack up my stuff and leave. Nate was still there, and he beamed at me as I approached, making me smile back.
For some reason, my eyes were drawn by something to the left, almost a magnetic pull that made me look in the direction just as he looked up. Our eyes met, and I felt it again, that sharp spark of pure hate. It made me wish today wasn’t Lola’s wedding, so I could at least splash some wine on his suit.
It was a shame really that he was so good-looking. Maybe if he were less appealing, I wouldn’t be so inclined to cause bodily harm.
I don’t want to be the first to look away, even though his gaze is electric in a way that makes me feel like I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.
“Emma?” Nate called out, shifting me back into focus. Right, I was at Lola’s wedding, surrounded by a horde of people.
I looked away reluctantly and gave Nate a small smile, crossing the rest of the distance to him. “Hey.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I said, smiling again, but really I was doing all I could not to give in and turn back to the piercing glare. I could still feel it like an arrow being lodged in my spine. “I think I’m just going to call it a night. I have an early flight tomorrow.”
“Oh, just wait here then. I’ll get my keys and help you get back to your hotel.”
“It’s fine,” I waved him off with a small smile. Was it me or was the room getting louder by the minute? Maybe the noise was giving me a migraine. I could feel my senses being heightened somehow and knew I needed to get out. “I’m really close by.”
“Don’t bother arguing. Just wait here.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he had already left. It felt like I couldn’t hear to stay here a minute longer though so I picked up my jacket and purse, deciding to wait outside.
After sending him a quick text so he wouldn’t worry, I pulled on my jacket and went outside, feeling myself away slightly.
I was standing by the door one minute, then, everything went blank.
- Writer
